On Friday, February 11th, the Eastside Narcotics Task Force (ENTF) arrested four suspects, seized two vehicles, and three pounds of methamphetamine in the 16700 block of 168th Street S.W., Lynnwood, Washington.

The operation began in November 2010 and included over four months of surveillance and information gathering on drug targets and associates. The buy/bust happened last Friday, at 5 p.m. in a strip mall, resulting in the arrest of four males and the seizure of three pounds of meth being taken off the street.

Members of the task force stated the large quantity of meth was purchased from the suspects with alleged ties to California and the notorious La Familia Drug Cartel.

The Washington State Patrol K9 Narcotics Team was used to confirm and detect the location of the meth. Search warrants were executed on two vehicles. Vehicles seized were a 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse and 1993 Toyota Camry. All three pounds of meth, with a street value of $276,000, were located in the Eclipse.

The four males that were arrested were 19, 20, 21 and 33 years of age. Three live in Enumclaw and one in Lynnwood. Two are suspected members of the La Familia Drug Cartel, also known as the La Familia Michoacana, an extremely violent and unpredictable alliance. They are thought to be the largest supplier of methamphetamine to the U.S. Two suspects from Mexico are currently being held on ICE detainers. All were booked into Snohomish County Jail. The investigation continues.

ENTF is a partnership of the King County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol and police departments from Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island and Redmond.